Switch mechanism



P. A. SCHWARTZ 229,130

SWITCH MECHANISM Jan 28, 1936.

Filed April 8, 1931 INVENTOR PauZA. 507210 Q7752:

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCHMECHANISM Paul A. Schwartz, Flushing, N. Y.

Application April 8, 1931, Serial No. 528,545

2 Claims. (01. 200-59) The invention relates to vehicle directionsigsimple and rugged switch mechanism that is nals for automaticallyindicating by visual signal adapted to be operatably connected to thesteera turning movement or a cessation of movement ing mechanism of amotor vehicle and to an elecof a vehicle. trically operated visualsignalling device, the

Systems for indicating turning movements or switch mechanism being suchthat the visual sigr cessation of movement of a vehicle have beennailing device will be automatically operated to proposed. These systemsare either hand operindicate turning movements of the front wheels atedor are automatically operated by the moveof the vehicle of predeterminedmagnitude. ment of the steering wheel. The manual systems The particularnature of the invention as well are impracticable as they merelyindicate the as other objects and advantages thereof will ap- 10intention of the operator and when used by carepear most clearly from adescription of a preless or easily confused operators are a source offerred embodiment thereof as shown in the acdanger. For, unless theproper signal is given, companying drawing, in which, the operatorsintention actually carried into ef- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the frontwheel assembly feet, and the system restored to the neutral conof thevehicle showing the construction and locadition at the end of themovement, the system tion of the switch mechanism,

may indicate no turning movement when a turn- Fig. 2 is a sectional viewshowing details of one ing movement is intended, a movement opposite ofthe contact elements. to that intended, or a movement when none isProceeding now to a description of the draw- 30 intended. The previouslyproposed automatic ing wherein like parts are similarly designated,systems are an improvement over the manual and referring particularly i1 d 2 theresystems since in their use the human element is of. a Sw tchme ha s l is S ow mounted 011 not a factor but they too are notpracticable. It e ro t a e 2 0f e Vehicle The Switch is Well known thata considerable amount of play ec an sm l CO D a rectangular block 4 0f3. or free motion exists between the steering wheel insulation materialat the center of which is a and the front wheels of motor vehicles.Because pivot 5 mounting a Contact level 5 Which termiof this lostmotion the proposed t ti sysnates at one end in a circular movablecontact terns can be made to indicate with any degree of element 1. Ahelical spring 8 encircles the other accuracy only pronounced turningmovements; if d of C(mtact level 5 and is fastened t0 a p 9 so it isattempted to arrange them to indicate small tta h t On a d of the centerturning movements they are not accurate d line of block 4, which thecontact lever 6 overlike the manual systems may indicate a turn lies inits neutral position, is a diagonal slot l0. when none is taking placeor is intended, a wrong These s ots 10 a e perverse images of each otherturn, or continuance on the straight course when with reference to thementioned center line and a turn is actually being made. Thus they haveeach receives a member II that is carried by the only a very limitedutility under modern trafiic block. Each member H mounts a fixed contactconditions where most of the turning movements element l2, see Fig. 2.For so doing the member made in jockeying through traflic are smallmove- I I h n pp enlarged p n c r y bored ments. to accommodate theshank of the contact ele- For maximum safety it is highly desirable thatment [2, which has a threaded end. A p u l y 40 the operator of thevehicle as well as the operaof spacing washers 13 are disposed on theshank tors of other vehicles be at all times accurately of contactelement !2 between its head and a informed as to the direction in whichthe front contiguous face of the enlarged portion or head wheels of thevehicle are pointing. Such inforof the member H to space the head of thecontact mation would not only help to prevent the ordimember l2 adesired distance from that face.

nary collisions with other vehicles but would also A nut I2a screws onthe shank of contact elehelp to avoid the serious accidents which oftenment I2 and serves to securely position it. The follow when a vehiclesuddenly goes into a skid. shank of the member H is preferably rectan-In the previously proposed automatic systems the gular as it extendsthrough the slot H! to prevent 5o visual signal is so located as to beout of the view turning of the member, and is threaded as it ex- 00 ofthe operator of the vehicle and no attempt is tends below block 4. Itcarries washers l4 and made to furnish him with the information that nutl5, the nut and threaded portion of the is signalled. With suchinformation parking and shank cooperating with the enlarged. head of thestarting from a curb are also greatly facilitated. member H to hold thelatter against movement It is an object of this invention to provide ain any position of adjustment in groove I0. 55

Washers l4 and nut l5 also serve to position one end of conduits 36 and37.

Again referring to Fig. 1, block 4 is provided with a plurality of holesto accommodate screw bolts it which cooperate with axle encirclingmembers, not shown, to securely position the switch mechanism l on theaxle 2. The other end of helical spring 8 is encircled by a sleeve Hwhich is pivoted to a sleeve l8 encircling the tie-bar 59 of the vehicleby means of pivot i811. Tie bar i9 is connected to the front wheels 20,one of which is rocked by steering wheel 2! and associated mechanism 22a of the vehicle in the usual manner.

Conduits 36 and 3'! are connected to one terminal of separate lightsources of a visual signal device not shown, the other terminal beingconnected to a source of electrical energy, as a storage battery, alsonot shown. The other terminal of the storage battery or other source ofelectrical energy is connected thru conduit to the contact lever 6 ofswitch mechanism l. I

In assembling the switch mechanism, as shown, the aforementionedcenterline of switch I is located directly over the middle of axle 2 andthe pivot 58a of sleeve H is located directly over the middle of tie-barl9. With this disposition of the parts, movable contact 1 is moved thesame distance from its central or neutral position to the left and tothe right by equal left hand and right hand turning movements of thevehicle 3. This disposition of the parts is convenient but not essentialfor the same result may be obtained by positioning switch I anywhere onaxle 2 providing the pivot of sleeve I? is correspondingly located ontie-bar l9.

Slots I0 and spacing washers it are provided to enable the system to beadjusted to signal turning movements of a desired magnitude. Theseadjusting means also enable the system to be adjusted as required by thepecularities of the front wheel assembly of different makes and types ofvehicles. To adjust the system after it is assembled on the vehicle inaccordance with the above description the wheels are turned from thestraight course position through an angle which corresponds to theminimum turning movement to be signalled. The proper member H is thenmoved in its slot it until element l2 contacts to close the circuit ofits respective light bulb. The other element I 0 is then like positionedin its slot ID. This adjustment may be made permanent and all subsequentsmall adjustments made by adding or removing the necessary member ofspacing washers is. To further facilitate adjustment these spacingwashers l3 may be made of a thickness to correspond to a definite numberof degrees of movement of the front wheels. Other means of adjusting thecon tact elements l2 may be employed, as by threading their shanks intothe enlarged portions of the members H and securing the elements inplace with lock-washers.

The operation of the system is as follows: As the operator turns thesteering wheel in either direction to execute a turning movement theleft hand front wheel will be turned thus moving the tie-bar l9 andturning the right hand wheel with it. The movement of the tie bar willbe communicated through sleeves l1, l8 and helical spring 8 to thecontrol lever 6 so as to move contact element 1 toward the fixed contactelement [2. When the turning movement has reached the magnitude of themovements to be signalled, contact element 1 will engage the propercontact element I 2 and will close the circuit of the proper light bulb.If the magnitude of the movement is increased and the tie-bar l9 furthermoved no greater force is applied at lever B for after lever B is heldfrom further movement by the engagement of the contact elements 1 andI2, helical spring 8 will bend.

The system is also useful as a shimmy detecting device for by properlypositioning contact elements l2 relative to movable contact I it can bemade to signal movements of wheels 20 of magnitudes which cannot beotherwise detected.

While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, it isunderstood that the invention may be embodied in other forms, andvarious changes may be made without departing from its principle asdefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a selective switch for electrical circuits adapted to be operatedby a shiftable member connected to steering mechanism, a basic support,normally fixed electrical contacts mounted thereon, a movable electricalcontact pivotally mounted on said basic support between said fixedcontacts and having an operating arm, and yielding actuating means forsaid operating arm comprising a flexible member overlapping said arm inmutually retentive relationship therewith to angularly displace said armand an automatically adjustable connector for attachment to theshiftable member to be movable therewith to apply force to said flexiblemember laterally thereof.

2. In an electric switch adapted to be operated by a tie-rod connectedto dirigible wheels of an automobile, a basic support, normally fixedelectrical contacts mounted on said basic support, a movable electricalcontact pivotally mounted on said basic support between said fixedcontacts for engagement with either of them, said movable contact beingprovided with an operating arm, and actuating means for said operatingarm comprising a sleeve provided with means to attach it to the tie-rod,a second sleeve pivotally connected to the first mentioned sleeve and ahelical spring having opposite end portions respectively telescoped withthe second mentioned sleeve and said operating arm.

PAUL A. SCHWARTZ.

